Department for Transport

Motor Vehicles: Speed Limits

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether all new motor vehicles will be sold with automatic speed limiters from 2022.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: There are no proposals for mandating speed limiters on all new vehicles in the UK. Vehicles sold in Northern Ireland will be required to have speed warning systems, known as Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA), installed on all new registrations from July 2024. The Department for Transport is currently considering a package of new vehicle technologies, which includes ISA, that are designed to aid road safety. We will consider whether to make these technologies compulsory in new vehicles sold here once the new GB type approval scheme is in place. This is scheduled to be ready by mid-2022.

Motor Vehicles: Speed Limits

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Vehicle speed compliance statistics for Great Britain: 2020, published on 13 July, which found that 56 per cent of car drivers and 58 per cent of van drivers broke the 30mph speed limit, what steps they intend to take to reduce levels of speeding.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Government believes that any form of dangerous or inconsiderate driving behaviour is a serious road safety issue. All available research shows a link between excessive speed and the risk of collisions. We expect all drivers to observe the speed limit, and enforcement is a matter for the police. Policing of our roads, and how available resources are deployed, is the responsibility of individual chief officers, taking into account the specific local issues. Last July, the Department for Transport launched a Call for Evidence, as part of a wider Roads Policing Review, a thorough examination of roads policing in England and Wales and its relevance to road safety. Responses to the Call for Evidence have been analysed and the Government response is currently being prepared for publication. The response will address the key points raised by respondents, including feedback on speed enforcement.

Great British Railways

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether their Great British Railway reforms will (1) lead to a rationalisation of the demands on timetable space, and (2) end speculative bids from franchisees for timetable space.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: A new public body, Great British Railways, will run and plan the rail network, own the infrastructure, and receive the fare revenue. It will procure passenger services and set most fares and timetables, contracting with private companies to operate trains to the timetable and fares it specifies. Great British Railways will draw up contracts and the service plans that underpin them in line with its mandates to grow the railways and improve efficiency. Great British Railways will not design services that the infrastructure cannot support, or that are based on unworkable timetables, as happened repeatedly under franchising. There will also be the potential for new open access services to be explored in the future where spare capacity exists to make best use of the network and grow new markets for rail.

East Coast Railway Line: Trains

Lord Vinson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) quality, and (2) safety, of the suspension of the Azuma trains being used on the East Coast mainline; whether (a) they, or (b) LNER, have received reports of increased customer discomfort since the Azuma trains were introduced; and in light of any such assessment or reports, what plans they have to support the rectification of any operational problems identified with these trains.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Azuma trains were designed to modern standards for comfort and safety. Before the trains were delivered to London North Eastern Railway (LNER), a number of commissioning tests were carried out ensuring the quality of the ride was of an acceptable standard and safety specifications had been met. The comfort and safety of the trains in service and the rectification of any operational problems is the responsibility of the train operator, LNER, working in partnership with the train supplier and, if required, the Office of Rail and Road.

Attorney General

Domestic Abuse: Prosecutions

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the need for improvements in the implementation of the public interest test in decisions about whether to prosecute in cases involving a suspect who may also be a survivor of domestic abuse.

Lord Stewart of Dirleton: All decisions to prosecute are made in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, and a case must meet the evidential and public interest stages of the Full Code Test. We recognise that suspects may also be victims of domestic abuse. Accordingly, the Code acknowledges that suspects may have a lower level of culpability if they are compelled, coerced, or are victims of crime. The sixth edition of Charging (The Director's Guidance) published in December 2020 reinforces that in such circumstances it may be appropriate to offer an of court disposal or not to proceed with a case. The CPS also has bespoke guidance illustrating how bespoke conditional cautions can support offenders in appropriate cases.

Department of Health and Social Care

Rehabilitation

Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bethell on 19 February (HL13296), whether work on producing a cross-addiction strategy has now resumed; and if so, when such a strategy will be published.

Lord Bethell: Work on developing the addiction strategy will commence later this year and we expect this to be published in 2022. This will build on current Departmental work related to drugs, alcohol and gambling addiction.

NHS Test and Trace: Expenditure

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the detailed breakdown of the amount forecast to be spent on corporate services by NHS Track and Trace in its 2021–22 budget; what has been spent to date against that budget line in the current financial year; and how much has been spent on the use of management consultants from that budget line.

Lord Bethell: The programme is expected to spend £1,779 million on corporate services in 2021/22, which includes spend on finance, legal, commercial, human resources, digital, policy and communication services. However, a detailed breakdown of the forecast spend, the spend to date against that budget line and on management consultants is not currently available as it is being collated and centrally validated.

Long Covid: Females

The Lord Bishop of London: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to reports that long-COVID disproportionately affects women, what consideration they have given to the production of gender-sensitive guidelines for primary care professionals.

Lord Bethell: While we have not specifically considered gender sensitive guidelines, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published COVID-19 rapid guideline: managing the long-term effects of COVID-19 for all health and care professionals. A copy of the guideline is attached.‘Long’ COVID-19 is a new condition and our understanding of its impact on different demographic groups, as well as the best treatment options to pursue, is still developing. NHS England and NHS Improvement have committed to a health equity audit to assess equitable access, excellent experience and optimal outcomes for all communities.COVID-19 Rapid Guideline (pdf, 232.8KB)

Travel: Quarantine

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether UK passport holders and their spouses who live in the UK travel red list countries of (1) South Africa, (2) Botswana, or (3) Zambia, and who have both received two coronavirus vaccinations, are able to visit the United Kingdom without the need to go into quarantine.

Lord Bethell: All international arrivals who travel from or transit through a ‘red-list’ country, including South Africa, Botswana, and Zambia, in the preceding 10 days must quarantine in a managed quarantine facility, irrespective of their vaccination status.

Travel: Quarantine

Baroness Bull: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bethell on 21 May (HL18),what information, if any, is retained on requests for exemptions to the COVID-19 hotel quarantine system; if information is retained, how many such requests were made on medical grounds; and how many requests were (1) accepted, and (2) rejected.

Lord Bethell: The Managed Quarantine Service securely retains all the exemption correspondence and associated data within internal Departmental system and fully complies with the relevant provisions of the UK General Data Protection Regulation. Personal data is retained for as long as necessary for the purposes it is needed.Since February, approximately 60 cases have been granted exemptions from COVID-19 managed quarantine facilities on medical grounds. We do not hold data centrally on the number of unsuccessful exemption requests on medical grounds.

Ivermectin

Lord Stone of Blackheath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the (1) licensing, and (2) use, of Ivermectin in both the (a) treatment, and (b) prevention, of COVID-19.

Lord Bethell: The Department is closely monitoring the evidence on the case for using ivermectin for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. Licensing of ivermectin is dependent on application to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for authorisation. We are continuing to monitor for new data from trials worldwide, including the UK PRINCIPLE clinical trial platform, which announced on 23 June that ivermectin would be investigated to generate robust data on its effectiveness in treating adults aged 18 years old and over who are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19.

Ambulance Services: Staff

Lord Jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the manpower of the NHS Ambulance Service in England (1) in 2010, and (2) at present.

Lord Bethell: NHS Digital publishes Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) workforce statistics. These include staff working in hospital trusts and clinical commissioning groups, but not staff working in primary care or in general practitioner surgeries, local authorities or other providers.The following table shows the full time equivalent (FTE) number of staff working in all ambulance trusts in England as at March 2021, the latest data available and at March 2010. FTE in all ambulance trusts in EnglandMarch 201034,408March 202147,932 Source: NHS Digital HCHS Monthly Workforce Statistics

Coronavirus: Contact Tracing

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the accuracy of the NHS COVID-19 contact tracing app in identifying close contacts with people who test positive for the virus.

Lord Bethell: The app uses Bluetooth Low Energy to understand the distance over time between people who have downloaded the app. If someone tests positive for COVID-19, the app’s risk-scoring algorithm uses this data, along with the infectiousness of the individual testing positive, to make calculations about the risk of transmission and who should receive an alert. If a notification to self-isolate is received, the user’s device has been in close proximity to the device of someone who has recently tested positive. For its ability to judge proximity, the app achieves ‘excellent’ performance by scientific standards.Prior to the launch of the app it was tested in a range of environments, in order to evaluate its effectiveness at accurately measuring distance. The app has also been modelled in simulations involving hundreds of thousands of scenarios. The app performed as expected and we are confident that it can accurately detect distance in different settings. As Apple and Google develop aspects of the underlying contact tracing technology, they have also conducted their own tests related to accuracy.

Travel: Quarantine

Baroness Bull: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bethell on 21 May (HL18), whether (1) individuals, or (2) a panel, are responsible for assessing applications for medical exemptions from the COVID-19 hotel quarantine system, including the assessment of any supporting medical evidence; whether those responsible for assessing applications for medical exemptions hold any medical qualifications; and how those responsible for assessing applications are (a) recruited, and (b) remunerated.

Lord Bethell: To apply for a medical or compassionate exemption, a traveller should contact the Managed Quarantine Service at least 14 days before their travel date, with medical evidence to support their application. Evidence must be supplied from a healthcare professional, applying professional clinical judgement on the basis of past treatment and an assessment of whether it is possible for adequate care to be provided in a managed quarantine facility. This includes considering whether additional medical support could be provided by telephone, or by a family member joining an individual in quarantine. This will need to be assessed against the public health risk of variants of concern and conditions may be placed on any exemption.Applications are considered by trained Departmental staff, following detailed procedures designed by public health professionals and are supported by medically qualified public health professionals. These individuals are recruited and remunerated according to standard civil service procedures.

Hospital Beds

Lord Jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many NHS hospital beds there were in (1) 2010, (2) 2015, and (3) 2020.

Lord Bethell: Information is not available in the format requested as data is not collected on the total number of hospital beds by year.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimates they have made ofthe numbers of patients in England who remain clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 as of 19 July because (1) the vaccines are not effective for them due to their underlying condition, or (2) they have not received a vaccine.

Lord Bethell: We have not made a specific estimate.Approximately 9% of clinically extremely vulnerable people have not received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and thus remain at risk. A further 4% have received a single dose.

Social Services

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to tackle (1) rising demand, (2) rising costs, and (3) rent-seeking behaviours, in the adult social care sector, as identified by the APPG on Limits to Growth report Tacking growth dependency – the case of adult social care, published on 13 July.

Lord Bethell: The Government is committed to reforming the adult social care system and will bring forward proposals in 2021.We are working closely with local and national partners to ensure our approach to reform is informed by diverse perspectives, including of those with lived experience of the care sector.

Pregnancy: Down's Syndrome

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect unborn babies with Down’s Syndrome.

Lord Bethell: The Department expects clinicians to take note of the Supporting women and their partners through prenatal screening for Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome and Patau's syndrome consensus statement published in an online only format by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal College of Midwives and the Society and College of Radiographers.The consensus statement sets out that all medical professionals involved in the offer of prenatal screening should ensure that women are given results in a non-directive way; the offer of further tests is non-directive; women are signposted to relevant charities and organisations to support personal informed choice; and options following a higher chance result in a non-directive manner. The consensus statement explicitly states that parents whose babies have been identified as having a higher chance of having Down’s Syndrome who have decided to continue with their pregnancy should not have their decisions challenged or be pressured into changing their minds.

Long Covid: Health Services

The Lord Bishop of London: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote a multi-disciplinary approach to long-COVID in the NHS to ensure patients have access to joined-up care across multiple services.

Lord Bethell: NHS England published Long COVID: the NHS plan for 2021/22 on 15 June. Within the Plan, a multi-disciplinary care pathway is outlined as a principle of care for ‘long’ COVID-19, with the expectations that services must offer multidisciplinary, physical, cognitive, psychological and psychiatric assessments. The paediatric hubs also announced as part of the Plan will consist of multidisciplinary teams which can provide assessment services and remote support to other clinicians to ensure ongoing holistic support. The Plan also outlined that by mid-July, healthcare systems should provide fully staffed ‘long’ COVID-19 service plans covering the whole pathway from primary care through to specialist care using multidisciplinary teams. A copy of Long COVID: the NHS plan for 2021/22 is attached.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s COVID-19 rapid guideline: managing the long-term effects of COVID-19, states that access to multidisciplinary services should be provided for assessing physical and mental health symptoms and carrying out further tests and investigations and that integrated, multidisciplinary rehabilitation services, based on local need and resources should also be provided. A copy of the guideline is attached.Long COVID: The NHS Plan for 2021/22 (pdf, 842.9KB)COVID-19 Rapid Guideline (pdf, 232.8KB)

Influenza

Baroness Masham of Ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have madeof the efficacy of the current pathway to test and treat influenza.

Lord Bethell: We have not made a specific assessment. However, the diagnosis of influenza is generally made using clinical symptoms in primary care settings then confirmed by laboratory testing. Rapid testing for complicated influenza often takes place in hospitals. The treatment of influenza can involve antiviral medication and/or hospital admission. As a preventative measure, priority groups most at risk and frontline health and adult social care workers are eligible for a free influenza vaccine to protect them and prevent onward transmission to vulnerable members of the community.

Influenza: Screening

Baroness Masham of Ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to expand flu testing, including through (1) at-home testing, and (2) testing in the community, in 2021–22.

Lord Bethell: The diagnosis of influenza is generally made using clinical symptoms in primary care settings and can only be confirmed by laboratory testing. Rapid testing should be undertaken in all people with complicated influenza which often takes place in hospital. The Department is exploring potential options to expanding winter virus testing via home or community testing.

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust: Doctors

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision by Leicester NHS Trust to reinstate the employment of a doctor who was convicted of manslaughter in 2015; and what safeguards are in place to assess professional competence in this and equivalent situations.

Lord Bethell: As the independent regulator, the General Medical Council (GMC) assesses all fitness to practise concerns therefore, it would not be appropriate for the Department to make a specific assessment of their decisions. In serious cases, doctors are referred to the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service who make decisions on a doctor’s fitness to practice. If any restrictions are imposed on a doctor’s practise, the tribunal can only lift them if they are satisfied that there is no likely risk of repetition or danger to the public. We expect National Health Service organisations to have robust recruitment procedures. For healthcare professionals, this includes confirmation with the relevant professional regulatory body to ensure the individual has a license to practise and does not have any ongoing fitness to practise concerns. Where the outcome of pre-employment checks or any subsequent risk assessment are unsatisfactory, organisations retain the right to withdraw the offer of employment.

Department for Education

English Language: Education

Lord Gilbert of Panteg: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Berridge on 2 June (HL434), whether they still intend to publish a cross-Government English language strategy, as set out in the Integrated Communities Strategy green paper.

Baroness Berridge: I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave on 2 June 2021 to Question HL434.This government remains committed to English language as demonstrated by the manifesto commitment to boost English language teaching.Our response to the COVID-19 outbreak is our priority at present. We will provide an update on English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) in due course.The department also remains committed to strengthening communities through integration. Since publication, we have made significant progress on the commitments in the Integrated Communities Action Plan. This includes providing over 18,000 learner places through our Integrated Communities English Language Programme (£4.5 million) and Coordination Fund (£1.2 million), and setting up of five Integration Areas.We continue to build upon the Integration Area Programme and are working hard to boost English language provision, including through the ESOL for Integration Fund.

Vocational Guidance: Greater London

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they havemade of the report by London FirstCentral Government's Role in Helping London Drive Recovery, published in May; and what plans they have to introduce a London Careers Service to provide tailored and flexible support to (1) young Londoners transitioning from education to employment, and (2) adults who have been displaced as a result of the pandemic.

Baroness Berridge: We are investing over £100 million in the 2021/22 financial year to help young people and adults access high quality careers provision through The Careers and Enterprise Company and the National Careers Service. This includes additional funding of £32 million announced as part of the government's Plan for Jobs for the National Careers Service up to March 2022. This additional investment will support delivery of individual careers advice to help 269,000 more people (over 500,000 people in total), whose jobs or learning have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Through the Careers Hubs programme, The Careers and Enterprise Company is putting in place a national programme of support and coordination that will help all schools and colleges to deliver the Gatsby benchmarks of Good Career Guidance. Careers Hubs have played a vital role supporting young people to transition from school to the next phase of their lives, by delivering local careers events and developing resources. We have no plans to delegate the careers budget for young people or adults at this time. We will continue to work with local and combined authorities to ensure that local priorities are fed into the provision of careers advice, so that it is employer-led, integrated, and meets local needs.

Assessments: Fees and Charges

Baroness Garden of Frognal: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of charging awarding organisations for the approval of qualifications and the effect of this on the qualifications sector.

Baroness Berridge: The Skills and Post-16 Education Bill introduces provision for the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education to charge fees in connection with the approval or continued approval of technical education qualifications. An initial assessment of the impact of charging fees for the approval of technical education qualifications has been published as part of the wider Skills and Post-16 Education Bill impact assessment and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skills-and-post-16-education-bill-impact-assessment-and-jchr-memorandum. As set out in the bills policy summary note: “approval fees would be charged on a cost-recovery basis. Any approach designed would be proportionate and take into account the impacts on the market to ensure the range of approved qualifications meets the needs of employers and learners, including qualifications in niche areas.”. The intention is that the introduction of fees will not be considered until the initial reforms to technical qualifications have been implemented. The fee-charging power would be subject to regulations published by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education. A further assessment of the impact of the regulations on the market will be undertaken when the regulations are being made.

Ministry of Justice

Prisoners: Females

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the recent Employment Appeal Tribunal judgment that gender critical beliefs are protected under the Equality Act 2010, what steps they are taking to ensure that female prisoners will not suffer any detriment if they profess gender critical beliefs.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of the Employment Appeals Tribunal judgment that gender critical beliefs are protected under the Equality Act 2010; and what impact that judgement will have, if any, on current female prisoners in relation to biologically male transgender prisoners.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: The Ministry of Justice and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service are committed to advancing equality, eliminating discrimination, harassment and victimisation (including based on someone’s religion or belief, or gender reassignment status, as defined in sections 7 and 10 of the Equality Act 2010). This commitment remains in place following the judgment Forstater v CGD Europe & Others (UKEAT/0105/20). As part of this, we ensure that all prisoners are treated fairly and in a way that respects their rights, and encourage them to act in a way that is respectful and considerate of others. Any prisoner who has concerns about discriminatory behaviour can make a complaint via the discrimination incident reporting form and this will be investigated and addressed, as appropriate.

Department for International Trade

Trade Agreements: Religious Freedom

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of making protection of freedom of religion or belief one of the criteria which must be met for the UK to enter into a trade deal; and whether they have plans to introduce such a measure.

Lord Grimstone of Boscobel: HM Government is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief for all. HM Government regularly reports on violations of these freedoms, including in an annual report published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. We are clear that more trade does not have to come at the expense of rights and responsibilities. We will continue to take a balanced approach with our partners, delivering the best outcome for the United Kingdom, maximising the benefits of trade and upholding our values.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Politics and Government

Baroness Sugg: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are developing new frameworks for working on open societies, conflict and multilateralism; if so when they will be published; and what plans they have to consult (1) non-governmental organisations, and (2) Parliament, in the development of such frameworks.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Integrated Review published in March sets out the Government's vision of the UK's role in the world through to 2030. The review was the result of extensive consultation with non-governmental organisations and Parliament. It provides the framework for all UK Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy including in relation to open societies, conflict and multilateralism. The review renewed the UK's commitment to be a force for good in the world and puts promoting open societies at the centre of the Government's priorities, defining the framework for UK action both internationally and domestically.The review also outlined our approach to conflict, including focusing on preventing, managing and resolving conflict in priority regions and working in partnership with allies and multilateral organisations. The review underscored the UK's determination to seek multilateral solutions to global challenges. It set out a clear ambition for the UK to be a problem-solving and burden-sharing nation with a global perspective, working with others to protect our values and shape the international order of the future. We maintain an ongoing dialogue with Non-Governmental Organisations and Parliamentarians, including on the implementation of the Review.

International Development

Baroness Sugg: To ask Her Majesty's Government when theInternational Development strategy will be published; and what plans they have to consult (1) non-governmental organisations, and (2) Parliament, in the development of that strategy.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Secretary is leading work on the new International Development Strategy, which will be cross-government in scope. We look forward to engaging with partners and stakeholders, including civil society and Parliament, over the coming months. This will build on the extensive engagement and call for evidence that was undertaken to inform the Integrated Review.

Ethiopia: Sexual Offences

Baroness Helic: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many UK experts have been deployed to Ethiopia to advise on the safe collection and preservation of evidence relating to sexual violence.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We have deployed an expert from the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative UK Team of Experts. They are currently conducting an initial scoping mission. Their recommendations from this scoping mission will inform further options - including a wider deployment - for supporting the Government of Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and other key stakeholders to safely collect and preserve evidence, and bring the perpetrators of sexual violence to justice. The UK fully supports the joint investigation involving the UN Office of the High Commission for Human Rights. We continue to explore options for addressing the immediate needs of survivors, preventing further sexual violence and delivering justice and accountability.The UK has recently allocated a further £16.7m towards the crisis in Tigray. Part of this funding will be used to support survivors of sexual violence, through mobile health teams and by helping to re-start service delivery at health centres that were impacted by violence and looting.

Ministry of Defence

Afghanistan: Homicide

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made ofreports that Taliban fighters killed Afghan commandos who had surrendered.

Baroness Goldie: We strongly condemn such egregious actions perpetrated by the Taliban. While we recognise that the current security situation is serious, we do not believe there is any military solution to this conflict. The Taliban must engage in meaningful dialogue with the Afghan government, to enable a political solution to ensure lasting peace. We will continue to work closely with international and regional partners to support Afghan peace efforts, including through diplomatic support and technical advice.

Afghanistan: Immigration

Lord Coaker: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many applications they have (1) received, and (2) processed, since the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy launched in April.

Baroness Goldie: Through the Ex-Gratia Scheme (EGS) 1,550 former staff members including their families have relocated to the UK. Under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) 96 former staff members including their families have relocated to the UK so far with several thousand more due to arrive over the summer.Unfortunately for operational security reasons we cannot at this time comment on specific numbers of applications. However, we are significantly accelerating the pace of relocations in parallel with the military withdrawal. Our commitment to those who are eligible under the ARAP, and the process to deliver it, is not time-limited and will endure beyond the military presence in Afghanistan.

Department for Work and Pensions

Kickstart Scheme

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to extend the Kickstart Scheme; and what steps are they taking to communicate this decision to businesses.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: There are presently no plans to extend the Kickstart Scheme.

Care Homes and Hospitality Industry: Vacancies

Lord Pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatsteps they are taking to address the number of job vacancies in the (1) care, and (2) hospitality, sectors.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is continuing to work with the Department for Health and Social Care, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Devolved Authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as other Government Departments to fill vacancies in adult social care, hospitality and other sectors, offering training for those who need it, and securing jobs directly for those ready to move into roles. Two websites, JobHelp and Employer Help, were launched last year by the Department in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. JobHelp offers job search advice, showcases recruiting sectors, including adult social care and hospitality, and signposts to job vacancies to help people successfully find work. The Department is continuing to deliver the Plan for Jobs, which is focused on providing a skills and employment offer which allows people to adapt and pivot into the job roles that employers need to fill. This includes targeted provision such as Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) (in England and Scotland), which comprise training, work experience and a guaranteed interview for a real job.Launched in September 2020, the DWP Kickstart Scheme is a £2 billion scheme to create thousands of 6-month jobs for 16 – 24 year-olds on Universal Credit, who have been hardest hit by the economic impact of the pandemic. As part of Plan for Jobs, Job Entry: Targeted Support (JETS) is now live across England, Wales and Scotland. JETS provides light touch employment support for participants who are claiming either Universal Credit or New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance, for up to 6 months within the first year of unemployment.We have also just launched the Restart Scheme which will provide intensive, tailored employment support to help over 1 million Universal Credit claimants back towards sustained employment. The Department is working with trade bodies from England (Skills for Care), Wales (Social Care Wales) and Scotland (Scottish Social Services Council) to actively promote opportunities in the care sector and with key Hospitality sector employers and trade associations such as UK Hospitality and the British Beer and Pub Association to promote opportunities in the hospitality sector.

Vaccination: Industrial Health and Safety

Lord Pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatsteps they are taking to ensure that (1) scientists, (2) care workers, and (3) volunteers, working with vaccines are kept safe while undertaking their duties.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: Employers, including those involved in scientific activities such as the development, manufacture and testing of vaccines, are required to risk assess the activities they plan to undertake and implement controls to mitigate identified risks. Activities with certain types of vaccines (e.g. genetically modified organisms or biological agents), may require notification to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in advance of the work, providing details of the activity, and a summary of the risk assessment and key controls. Notifications are assessed by HSE before permission is granted. HSE may carry out inspections of facilities involved in the development, manufacture or testing of vaccines to ensure that necessary controls are in place and workers, including scientists, are not put at risk while undertaking their duties. Inspections cover a range of topics including engineering controls, procedural controls, training and competence of workers and management of health and safety. If breaches of health and safety legislation are identified there are a range of enforcement tools (from verbal instruction to enforcement notices) available to help achieve compliance. Care workers and volunteers are not involved in the administration of vaccines.

National Insurance

Lord Lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government what characteristicsof the National Insurance number system prevent them being aware how many National Insurance numbers are valid.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The National Insurance Number application process is robust, however there are instances where errors do occur. If it is identified that a National Insurance Number has been allocated and a record created in error, there are processes in place between the Department of Work and Pensions and HMRC to take action to prevent the National Insurance Number being used, for example in cases where a fraudulent application has been identified or a duplicate record has been created in error.

National Insurance

Lord Lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government why their systems useNational Insurance numbers as personal identifiers if, at any given instant, they do not know whether such numbers are valid.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: National Insurance Number are used as Identifiers for National Insurance Number Records; held for each individual who has been allocated a National Insurance Number. Robust identity checks are undertaken when an application for a National Insurance Number is received. At the point of creation of a National Insurance Record the validity of the record has been confirmed. Whilst a National Insurance Number is the identifier for a National Insurance account within the Department of Work and Pensions and HMRC, to enable Tax and Contributions to be posted to the citizen’s record and/or the administration of Department Benefits and Pensions, there are robust processes in place to validate a citizen’s/customer’s identity before a benefit/pension will be paid.

National Insurance

Lord Lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many National Insurance numbers were valid on the latest date for which this figure is available.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: As of 11:50am on 16th July 2021, the Department Customer Information System (CIS) holds National Insurance Number records for 72, 096, 863 Adults; where a Date of Death is not held on their record. As processes are in place to remediate invalid National Insurance Number records, the volume of Live Adult records are deemed to be valid.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Recycling: Urban Areas

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the recycling rates of (1) London, and (2) the core cities of England; and what steps they are taking to improve the rates of the poorest performing cities.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The most recent annual publication of waste statistics shows the ‘household waste’ recycling rate for the 2019/20 financial year: London Region - 33.5%Birmingham City Council - 23.6%Manchester City Council MBC - 40.4%Leeds City Council MBC - 38.2%Bristol City Council – 47.1%Liverpool City Council – 23.6%Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council MBC – 40.2%Nottingham City Council – 26.2%Sheffield City Council – 31.7% Recycling rates for 2020/21 for local authorities in England are not yet available. Recycling rates for 2019/20 were published on 3 March 2021. An ad hoc set of provisional results covering April 2020 to June 2020 was published on 12 May 2021. The Government is committed to increasing both the quality and quantity of materials collected for recycling and making recycling easier for everyone. The Environment Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament, introduces legislation that will require all collectors of waste to collect a core set of materials from households, businesses, and other organisations such as schools. The core set will be plastic, glass, metal, paper and card, food and garden waste (for household only). By collecting the same core set of materials there will be less confusion among householders and businesses about what they can put in their recycling bins. As a result, the amount of materials that local authorities collect for recycling will increase. We want to work closely with local authorities to help them improve their recycling performance. We plan to provide guidance and examples of good practice.

Animals: Customs

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are no longer planning to carry out animal checks at the White Cliffs Site; and where they plan to locate a suitable facility for such checks.

Lord Benyon: The Government undertook a thorough review of the plans for Border Control Post (BCP) facilities for EU goods arriving through Kent, and a range of delivery options were explored.Ministers agreed that the BCP at Sevington’s inland border facility would carry out the majority of SPS inspections for imports arriving through the short straits for all plants, plant products, and live animals apart from livestock. Inspections of Products of Animal Origin (POAO) from Eurotunnel will also take place at Sevington. POAO from the Port of Dover will go to a separate BCP in the Dover area.The review was undertaken in line with good practice to ensure that Government programmes are meeting requirements and delivering the most value for money.We are working to procure suitable sites which meet the requirements for livestock and POAO facilities.

Olives: Imports

Lord Framlingham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that every olive tree imported into the UK is inspected for disease.

Lord Benyon: In March 2021, Great Britain (GB) introduced strict controls on the import of olive trees in response to the threat posed by the plant disease Xylella fastidiosa. These measures represent a significant strengthening of requirements. Imports of olive trees from countries where Xylella has not been officially confirmed as absent are only permitted under stringent conditions, including: i) inspections of the place of production and the surrounding area during the 12 months before export; ii) inspection and testing of the plants annually; iii) pre-export inspections and testing where suspect symptoms are seen; and iv) if the place of production is in an area where Xylella is known to occur they should also be grown in complete physical protection to exclude the insect vector of Xylella. In all other cases, olive trees destined for export to GB must be grown for at least three years (or throughout their entire life in the case of trees which are younger than three years) in a country known to be free from Xylella. The site of production must be subject to annual official inspection with sampling and testing. All imports of regulated plants, including olive trees, are subject to GB’s risk-based import checking regime. The highest risk items (those assessed as presenting a significant risk of introducing harmful pests and diseases into GB) are subject to 100% documentary, identity and physical checks. This includes olive trees imported for propagation, growing on or multiplication. The level of identity and physical checks on other commodities is based on the risk presented by the import of different plants and goods from different origins. Certain plants, including olive trees, imported from the EU for final users, are subject to a lower rate of inspection to reflect the lower level of risk posed. Levels of inspection are kept under review and can be adjusted to reflect any changes in the risk situation.

Home Office

Refugees: Syria

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many individuals have been resettled under its Vulnerable Persons Resettlement scheme since the scheme restarted.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: In December 2020, the UK resumed resettlement following a pause due to the pandemic. On 25 February 2021 the Government met its target of resettling 20,000 refugees who have fled the conflict in Syria through the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme. Since then, the Government has continued to welcome refugees through the global UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS).The numbers of refugees resettled are published through official statistics at quarterly intervals. The next set of statistics will be published in July and will include the number of people resettled since March. These are available from:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release

Religious Practice: Islam

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 29 April (HL15173), what is their estimate of the number of mosques in the UK; and how many have they assessed for evidence of radicalisation through their (1) support, or (2) justification, of violence towards non-Muslims.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: We assess all evidence of those that radicalise others though their support for or justification of violence and will not tolerate those who spread divisive and harmful narratives. We cannot discuss individual cases and we have made no assessment of the number of mosques in the UK.We continue to work with law enforcement agencies and multi-agency partners to increase our understanding of new and emerging radicalising threats to society. Any violent threat is assessed and managed by the police and security services based on the threat that it is deemed to pose.Our work to counter radicalisation through Prevent works best when it is delivered in partnership with communities and civil society, including faith institutions.

Cabinet Office

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the devolved administrations regarding the removal of COVID-19 restrictions; and what were the outcomes of those discussions.

Lord True: The UK government has worked closely with the Devolved Administrations throughout the COVID-19 response. While public health is a devolved matter in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, our joint statement last September demonstrates our commitment to seek a coordinated approach where the evidence and the science shows this would save lives or make the response more effective, and work together to protect lives and livelihoods across the UK.

UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the trade barriersbetween Great Britain and Northern Ireland will be removed.

Lord Frost: The UK Government has ensured through legislation that there is unfettered access for Northern Ireland businesses to the whole of the UK market. There are therefore no processes in place for goods movements from Northern Ireland to Great Britain. With regards to the movement of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, the Government recognises the extensive burdens imposed by customs and agrifood processes and checks seemingly required to create a zero-risk approach to protecting the single market. We are considering our next steps and discussing with all those with an interest. We will set out our approach to Parliament in a considered way shortly.

Constitutional Reform and Governance Act

Lord Norton of Louth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements they put in place in 2020 to ensure that Government Departments complied with the requirements of section 3(6) of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.

Lord True: The Civil Service Code sets out that civil servants advising ministers should be aware of the constitutional significance of Parliament, and of the conventions governing the relationship between Parliament and the government. The Code is part of the terms and conditions for civil servants. Each department or agency has a duty to make civil servants aware of the Code and its values.

Political Parties: Disclosure of Information

Lord Tyrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what considerationthey have given to requiring all political parties represented in the House of Commons to publish party membership numbers.

Lord True: This is a matter for individual political parties.

UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland

Lord Moylan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what public expenditure has been incurred on the (1) Traders’ Support Scheme, (2) the Movement Assistance Scheme, and (3) other such programmes for the support of Northern Ireland businesses operating under the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland; and whether they have estimated the full expenditure for 2021.

Lord Frost: The UK has taken forward extensive work on and invested substantial sums in the operation of the Protocol since the beginning of the year. The total spend on the Trader Support Service through to May 2021 is £125m. In procuring the contract, the UK Government committed over £200m in trader support through the service, and as it stands the forecast is for around £360m in support over the full two years to the end of 2022. Since launching in December 2020, the MAS has supported over 140 businesses with the cost of more than 11,400 certificates; the scheme is now confirmed to run until at least December 2023. We have already spent £25 million on the Digital Assistance Scheme and the forecast is that total spend in this area could run to up to £150 million.

Census

Lord Lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many 2021 census forms were (1) requested, and (2) have been completed and returned.

Lord Lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many fines have been issued for non-completion of the 2021 census.

Lord Lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have compare the census data with the Department for Work and Pensions' database of National Insurance numbers to identify (1) NI numbers which should be terminated, and (2) individuals who should be fined for non-completion of the 2021 census.

Lord True: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.Professor Sir Ian Diamond | National Statistician Lord LucasHouse of LordsLondonSW1A 0PW13 July 2021 Dear Lord Lucas, As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions relating to Census 2021 in England and Wales asking firstly how many 2021 census forms were (1) requested, and (2) have been completed and returned (HL1710); secondly, how many fines have been issued for non-completion of the 2021 census (HL1711); and what plans there are to compare the census data with the Department for Work and Pensions' database of National Insurance numbers to identify (1) NI numbers which should be terminated, and (2) individuals who should be fined for non-completion of the 2021 census (HL1713). Census 2021 was designed to be a digital-first census and we encouraged people to complete online where possible, but we made sure that those who preferred to use a paper questionnaire were able to do so. Most households were sent a letter with an access code to complete the census online. Ten percent of households, where the take-up of the online option was likely to be relatively low, were sent a paper questionnaire in place of the Census 2021 letter. Each paper questionnaire also included an access code so that the household could complete online. Similarly, while most reminder letters sent to households that had not yet completed the census included the online access code, some households were sent paper questionnaires as part of the reminder and follow-up process. Paper questionnaires and online access codes were also available on request via our freephone contact centre or the Census 2021 website. The response to Census 2021 has exceeded all expectations, with a return rate of 97 percent of households across England and Wales and an online-completion rate above our target of 75 percent. The return rate is based on the number of households where we have a valid return, as a percentage of all addresses that are not considered to be vacant. Final response rates will be calculated after following the processing of data from the census and the Census Coverage Survey, and may therefore differ from the return rate. While this processing is continuing, we are not able to provide the detailed information requested. We are planning to publish an article in the autumn with information on how people completed the census, including whether they did so online or on paper. As regards the number of fines for non-completion and for providing false information in Census 2021, I would like to clarify that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) does not have the power to impose fines under the Census Act 1920. Fines can be imposed by the courts as a result of a successful prosecution, and the ONS works closely with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on bringing cases to court where necessary. The ONS is currently undertaking the non-compliance process, including gathering evidence to be passed to the CPS where appropriate. The main objective of this work is to persuade the few people who refuse to complete a questionnaire to do so; as such, people can avoid the risk of a fine for non-completion at any stage by completing the census. We have no plans to use census data for the purposes described in your question. In accordance with all relevant legislation, UK Statistics Authority policy, and the promises made to census respondents, personal information collected during the census can and will be used for statistical purposes only, and not used in any way that could have a direct impact on individuals.  Yours sincerely,Professor Sir Ian Diamond

Northern Ireland Office

Veterans: Northern Ireland

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will taketo ensure the protection of veterans who served in Northern Ireland while ensuring that the implementation of any such protection does not result in those responsible for terrorist offences evading justice.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Government has been clear that it will deliver on its commitments to NI veterans as part of a wider package to address the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland. As set out by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland last week, the Government’s proposed package focuses on reconciliation, information recovery and ending the cycle of investigations that is not working for anyone. The Government remains clear however, that it will never accept any moral equivalence between those who upheld the law in Northern Ireland and those, on all sides, who sought to destroy it. These proposals will be considered as part of the ongoing intensive talks process with the NI parties, Irish Government and representatives of NI society, further to which we will bring forward legislation.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Work Permits: EU Countries

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to conclude bilateral agreements with European Union member states on work permit exemptions.

Baroness Barran: We have always acknowledged that the end of freedom of movement would have consequences for touring musicians and performers. Member States are principally responsible for deciding the rules governing what work UK visitors can undertake in the EU, and we have spoken to every Member State. We have established that musicians and performers do not require visas or work permits for short-term tours in at least 19 out of 27 Member States without needing visas or work permits. This includes France, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and many more. We are now working with the remaining countries to encourage them to match the UK’s generous arrangements, which allow creative professionals to tour here easily. The Government’s door also remains open if the EU is willing to revisit the proposals made during the negotiations.

Motor Sports: Ethnic Groups

Lord Boateng: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) findings, and (2) recommendations, of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Hamilton Commission report Accelerating Change: Improving Representation of Black People in UK Motorsport, published on 13 July.

Lord Boateng: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with theBritish motor sports industry regarding access to training and employment opportunities for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic young people.

Baroness Barran: The Government is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in all sport and physical activity, including motor sport. Our strategy ‘Sporting Future’ sets out a clear ambition to increase diversity among sporting organisations and to help the sport sector be more inclusive and welcoming to its spectators, participants and people in its workforce. However it is ultimately for all individual sports’ national governing bodies, to decide on the specific aims and appropriate initiatives in their organisations, and to evaluate progress with these. We welcome the work of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Sir Lewis Hamilton which is aimed at improving the representation of Black people in UK motor sport. We will continue to work across government and with sector partners to ensure that inequalities people from ethnically diverse backgrounds face in sport, including motorsports, are being tackled effectively. Sport England, UK Sport and the other home nations’ sports councils have also recently published the results of a detailed, independent review into tackling racism and racial inequality in sport. Following the findings each Council is working to develop their own specific action plans to deliver on their initial commitments relating to people; representation; investment; systems and insight. This will involve working closely with relevant groups or communities to tackle racial inequality in sport, and bring about lasting change.

Gambling: Children

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown: To ask Her Majesty's Government what further steps they will take to stop gambling firms from enticing children to bet.

Baroness Barran: Under the Gambling Act 2005, it is a criminal offence to invite or allow a child to take part in most forms of commercial gambling, and protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling is one of the licensing objectives which guide the work of the Gambling Commission. Operators must abide by strict requirements for the protection of children and are subject to sanction by the Commission if they breach these rules. All gambling advertising, wherever it appears, is subject to strict controls on content and placement. Gambling operators advertising in the UK must abide by the advertising codes issued by the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) and the Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) in which a wide range of provisions are designed to protect children. For example, gambling adverts must not be targeted at children or feature content which appeals particularly to them. CAP and BCAP have also recently consulted on strengthening the codes to reduce potential appeal to children. The Gambling Industry Code for Socially Responsible Advertising requires that operators ensure their logos do not appear on commercial merchandise (such as replica football kit) which is designed for children, and includes a ‘whistle-to-whistle’ ban on gambling adverts during live broadcast sport before 9pm. The government launched its Review of the Gambling Act 2005 with the publication of a Call for Evidence which closed on 31 March and received approximately 16,000 submissions from a broad range of interested organisations and individuals. We are considering the evidence carefully and intend to publish a White Paper by the end of the year.

Television Licences: Payments

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is legislation which stipulates that TV licences can be paid for only (1) by cheque for the full amount, or (2) Direct Debit for quarterly payments.

Baroness Barran: The regulations which set the frequency and amount of instalments by which TV licence fees can be paid are the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004. The Communications (Television Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 amended instalment amounts for the period beginning 1 April 2021. The Regulations allow for a range of payment options. For example, the TV Licensing website sets monthly, quarterly and annual payment options for direct debit plans: https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/pay-for-your-tv-licence/ways-to-pay/direct-debit. It also sets out that licence fee instalment amounts for a weekly or fortnightly payment licence are set out in an individual payment plan when a customer signs up for a Payment Card: https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/pay-for-your-tv-licence/ways-to-pay/payment-card. There is no provision in the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004 which specifies payments must be made by a certain method. The BBC is responsible for the collection and enforcement of the licence fee, including methods of payment.